Google Pay Goes Live in Nigeria, Bringing Tap-to-Pay to Android Phones
Key Takeaways
- •Google Wallet and Google Pay are now live in Nigeria, allowing Android and Wear OS users to pay contactlessly in stores, apps, and online.
- •Google Pay is the first major phone wallet to support local Nigerian bank cards at launch, while Apple Pay still cannot accept Naira-denominated Mastercard or Visa cards.
- •Four banks are participating at launch—FirstBank, GTBank, UBA, and Zenith Bank—with card eligibility varying by institution and card type.
- •GTCO's payments subsidiary HabariPay has enabled Google Pay for merchants on its Squad payment gateway, extending support to the merchant side of transactions.
- •Google says the service protects financial data with multiple layers of security and encryption, and lost or stolen phones can be locked or wiped remotely via Find My Device.
Google has officially launched Google Wallet and Google Pay in Nigeria, enabling Android and Wear OS users to make contactless payments with a simple tap in physical stores, within apps, and online. The company announced the rollout through its Africa blog and its official X account.
The launch marks a notable development for Nigeria's digital payments landscape. Apple Pay remains limited for Nigerian users: a December 2025 report noted that Nomba's terminals accept Apple Pay, but local users could not add Naira-denominated Mastercard or Visa cards to Apple Wallet. Google Pay is the first major phone wallet to support local bank cards in Nigeria at launch.
With the service now live, users can add eligible cards issued by participating financial institutions and pay at contactless terminals without reaching for a physical card. Beyond payments, Google Wallet also serves as a digital home for loyalty cards, event tickets, and boarding passes, consolidating them in a single place.
According to Google, Google Pay safeguards financial data with multiple layers of security and industry-standard encryption. In the event a phone is lost or stolen, users can lock the device, set a new password, or wipe personal data remotely through Find My Device.
Which banks and cards are supported?
Google's support page lists four participating banks: FirstBank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Zenith Bank, according to reporting by BusinessDay and THEWILL. Card eligibility varies by institution and card type.
FirstBank's Mastercard debit cards are eligible for the service. GTBank supports Mastercard debit and prepaid cards, while Zenith Bank accepts Mastercard credit, debit, and prepaid cards. UBA supports Mastercard credit, debit, and prepaid cards, in addition to Visa prepaid cards.
UBA confirmed it has enabled Google Pay for eligible Visa and Mastercard users. “Digital payment in Nigeria is growing fast, and customers expect more ways to pay,” said Alero Ladipo, the bank's Group Head of Brands, Marketing and Corporate Communications.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) separately said its payments subsidiary, HabariPay, has enabled the service for merchants on its Squad payment gateway, extending support to the merchant side of the payment flow.
How to get started
Tap-to-pay in stores requires an Android phone equipped with near-field communication (NFC). To set up the service:
- Download the Google Wallet app from the Google Play Store.
- Tap “Add to Wallet” and select a payment card.
- Enter or scan your card details and accept the terms.
- Verify the card with your bank when prompted.
- Hold the unlocked phone near a contactless terminal to pay in stores, or select Google Pay at online checkout.
Before getting started, users should confirm their card's eligibility with their bank. Not every card issued by the four participating banks qualifies, and merchants must accept contactless payments for tap-to-pay transactions to work.
